Humility. Jesus Christ was the ultimate example. To say that you’re sorry when you have offended another, or even greater to love and serve another when you have been hurt... Oh how great a task! To live this out is not natural, it doesn’t come easy and yet, Christ commands that we do so. Why, because He has done it himself! The Cross, silent before his accusers, denying his deity, taking my punishment, the list goes on and on. But the one example that keeps playing over and over in my mind is Jesus and Judas.
John 13: 1-17
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
What a picture! What truth! What an example! Oh Father, that I may only glorify you in following through with this extreme call to humble myself before you and men. Jesus was quite extraordinary. How many times have I not been able to live out this very command that he has required of me. All to often, when I am offended I can barely look at the other person, let alone deny myself and serve them. How shameful! And what exactly is shameful? When my due credit is not recognized, am I going allow myself to walk shamed before men? When I have been wronged and my forgiveness is not sought? Or is not obeying the Lords commands actually more shameful? He said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
I have been walking through a lesson of humility. God is teaching me to really love my brother despite. I need to forget my feelings and my desire for my offender to know they have wronged me. I need to stop waiting in my hurt until I hear a plea for forgiveness and forgive instead.
Jesus never ever showed an outward display of a need for his offender, Judas, to admit he had wronged him. In fact, he never makes any attempt to coax Judas into paying him homage. In fact just the opposite.
This is Jesus; knowing all things. He never said a word but with a display of power he made himself look shamed by taking the place of a servant (the lowest of the low) and cleaned the very one who openly hated him. Jesus poured out love to his offender. He offered to make himself nothing that his enemy would be spared a future of suffering and consequence, that was rightfully due him.
Judus, Peter, John, you and me, we all have a punishment and sentence of death that is rightfully due us. But despite, Jesus forgave, he humbled himself, he washed and pronounced on that Cross you are forgiven!
Patsy accept his forgiveness and like wise forgive, love and shamefully lower yourself and serve. Serve the very ones who have hated you. “Love them.” says the Lord, “As I have loved you.”
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